Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai

After surviving the entrance exams, Sakuta Azusagawa has finally enrolled in the same university as his girlfriend, Mai Sakurajima. He is gradually getting used to the unfamiliar environment as he attends student gatherings and makes new acquaintances. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Sakuta's friend and Sweet Bullet idol group member Uzuki Hirokawa begins acting out.

With fellow Sweet Bullet member Nodoka Toyohama pleading for his help, Sakuta realizes that he has stumbled upon another case of the inexplicable Puberty Syndrome—Uzuki is feeling pressured by the sudden surge of popularity and rumors of a potential solo career. While Sakuta searches for a solution, another occurrence of Puberty Syndrome gradually emerges from the shadows.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sakurajima, Mai Main

Seto, Asami Japanese

Azusagawa, Sakuta Main

Ishikawa, Kaito Japanese

Miniskirt Santa Main

Ueda, Reina Japanese

Futaba, Rio Supporting

Tanezaki, Atsumi Japanese

Azusagawa, Kaede Supporting

Kubo, Yurika Japanese

Koga, Tomoe Supporting

Touyama, Nao Japanese

Makinohara, Shouko Supporting

Minase, Inori Japanese

Toyohama, Nodoka Supporting

Uchida, Maaya Japanese

Kunimi, Yuuma Supporting

Uchida, Yuuma Japanese

Kamisato, Saki Supporting

Akaneya, Himika Japanese

Nara, Shunsuke Producer

Kurokawa, Yuuichirou Producer

Tsuji, Toshikazu Producer

Masui, Souichi Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Sep 27, 2025

Otaku329

Recommended

“Love isn’t about logic. If it made sense, it wouldn’t be love.”

That’s exactly how I feel about the absolute rollercoaster that is Bunny Girl Senpai. It has everything you could ask for, emotions, romance, wholesome moments, character growth, story depth, you name it. You can tell it was written with love.

That said, I get that it’s not for everyone. Some might find it “weird” or even “repetitive,” but for me, that’s missing the point. To truly see its beauty, you can’t just look at the surface, you have to dive into the depth of the storytelling.

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Santa Claus really ... hit the spot. Coming in right after Knapsack Kid with a one year time skip, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the moment Sakuta got dragged back into the mess of Puberty Syndrome, I felt right at home. The mix of heartfelt drama, strange supernatural twists, and touching character growth is exactly why I fell in love with this series in the first place. For me, this was an easy 10/10 experience.

Story 8/10

The story keeps the series’ trademark formula: a grounded, emotional core wrapped in supernatural metaphors. It feels more mature now that Sakuta and Mai are in college, but the essence hasn’t changed. From the sudden appearance of “Santa” to the emotional struggles of friends caught up in Puberty Syndrome, the narrative balances mystery, heart, and humor perfectly. It’s the kind of storytelling that sneaks up on you and hits harder the more you think about it.

However, it doesn’t really try to reinvent itself. The formula is the same as season 1, someone gets hit with Puberty Syndrome, Sakuta steps in to help, and of course, Mai-san ends up in trouble and needs saving. On paper, that might sound repetitive, and I did had issues with it. But honestly? For us Bunny Girl fans, that’s exactly what we signed up for. It’s the comfort of familiarity, and I can’t really complain about that.

Art 9/10

The visuals aren’t showy, but they fit the tone. Character expressions carry the emotional weight beautifully, and certain scenes really stick in your head. It may not be the flashiest anime visually, but the art style is consistent and helps deliver the story’s atmosphere.

Soundtracks 8/10

The soundtrack was spot-on. The opening theme sets the mood right away, while the background music knows when to stay soft and when to swell with emotion. Voice acting is top-tier as always—Sakuta and Mai’s performances carry so much weight that you can feel every little shift in their emotions.

Characters 10/10

This series has always been character-driven, and this season is no exception. Sakuta continues to shine as the grounded, sincere heart of the story. Mai’s presence feels even more significant now, and their relationship growth is a highlight. New characters like the “Santa” bring intrigue and depth, while the supporting cast gets moments that remind you how much you’ve come to care about them.

Enjoyment 10/10

Honestly, I loved every second. The pacing may be slow compared to action-heavy shows, but that’s the charm. The emotional highs and lows felt genuine, and the mix of romance, drama, and mystery kept me hooked throughout. I found myself smiling, tearing up, and just fully immersed in the world again.

Conclusion

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Santa Claus was everything I wanted and more. It captures the magic of the original series while pushing the characters into new, meaningful territory. With heartfelt storytelling, subtle but effective visuals, and characters that feel real, this season reminded me why Bunny Girl Senpai is one of my favorites. A perfect 10/10 from me.

TL;DR:
A heartfelt continuation that nails the emotional beats, delivers meaningful character growth, and reminds you why Bunny Girl Senpai is special. For me, this was an easy 10/10.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Otaku329 (18)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Sep 27, 2025

dontttt

Mixed Feelings

If we’re being honest, season 1 is just better in every way. Bunny Girl Senpai lost its allure after that, and I think it comes down to three major problems in season 2.

First, season 2 basically pushed the romance aside. The relationship between Mai and Sakuta was the main reason a lot of people loved the show, and some even went into the sequel movies specifically to keep up with their relationship. So when the show decided to put that aspect on the backburner, it really needed to make up for it by nailing the supernatural and mystery side while still giving us small slice ... of life moments between the couple to keep the romance fans happy.

This leads into the second issue, which is that Puberty Syndrome has always been kind of stupid and illogical. It only really works when you look at it from the emotional side of things, since it’s more of a metaphor for what the characters are going through rather than something that makes sense in-universe.

The problem is that this emotional explanation makes the whole thing vague, and that vagueness is exactly why it gets so confusing. Certain events end up feeling like complete mysteries, especially to anime-only viewers who don’t have the extra context from the light novels. In season 1, that wasn’t as big of a problem because it was new, fresh, and had some strong implementations, plus the cast was smaller and easier to care about. But by season 2, it turned into a chore of trying to follow an LN adaptation that leaves anime-only viewers in the dark when it comes to the details, which is very important for a show trying to make a deep and complex story.

Third, the arcs start focusing on characters I have no reason to care about. Compare that to Kaede, who is one of the best characters in the show and proved that Puberty Syndrome could actually work in a meaningful way. But in season 2, the spotlight shifts to characters who barely had any presence before. We are suddenly expected to care about someone who showed up for maybe 30 seconds in the previous movie, and the reasoning behind her depression and regret feels childish and forced. It is hard to take seriously when the entire conflict comes from one random and almost meaningless event. Instead of adding real depth, it just makes the story feel shallow.

Lastly, I don’t want to make it sound like I completely hate everything about this show, and that’s reflected in the rating I gave it. I still enjoy the dialogue between Sakuta and the other characters, and I think his relationship with Mai is wholesome and even pretty realistic in certain aspects. On top of that, I genuinely like the OP and ED. But none of that changes the fact that season 2 just isn’t as solid as season 1, and many people will not enjoy the experience to the same extent.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by dontttt (8)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Sep 27, 2025

Chuy_diazz

Not Recommended

Just when you think the story can't be more self-inserted, this second season comes along to prove it can.

A somewhat unnecessary second season, in my opinion. If the story had ended with the movies, no one would have complained. Why is that? Because in the second season, the girls experiencing puberty syndrome don't have a direct relationship with Sakuta. Everything in the protagonist's life after the last movie seems to be resolved. He has a girlfriend, his sister is doing well, and he managed to save the life of his first love. Up until then, there wasn't much more to explore about the character; he'd ... already had his closure; there was no reason to give him a second closure. For this reason, this second season had the opportunity to give secondary characters a spotlight and give them their own closure.
We have characters we met this season who have always magically been linked to Sakuta, and if they were girls, they always ended up falling in love with the protagonist. At some point, it seems like you're watching a teenage fantasy about having a girlfriend but being able to flirt with other girls without any problems. Sakuta's disloyalty is disguised with a weak excuse like "it's all for Mai's sake." Sakuta is a terrible boyfriend, who ditches dates to go on dates with other girls. He accepts confessions instead of rejecting them and makes his girlfriend waste money because he has to meet with a student at Christmas.

The introduction of the miniskirted Santa Claus is just a rehash of the first arc. An invisible girl that only Sakuta can see, so original. On top of that, they're screwing up what they presented in the first season because now puberty syndromes are no longer about quantum physics, but about an entity that distributes them. Since Rio Futaba's character no longer appears as often and she was in charge of the convoluted explanations of quantum physics, they had to fill that gap with a rather flimsy explanation. Puberty syndromes this season are incomprehensible because there's no visual representation on screen. The first syndrome seen this season is "being able to read the room." This isn't a supernatural power; it's a social skill that any adult should have; they call it empathy. Since it's just an idol drama, you don't feel anything at all because it all seems more like a whim than a real syndrome. In the end, they resort to the same trick: Mai is in mortal danger because they don't know how to move the story forward. The first death sentence works, the second loses its impact. On top of that, since Sakuta doesn't have a direct relationship with those affected by the syndrome, he ends up feeling more like a busybody than a savior.

An anime that, unlike its fandom, didn't grow up and remain stuck in a teenage fantasy. All so that teenagers of this generation could immerse themselves in a story where they could be the worst person and still be loved.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Chuy_diazz (138)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Animes in which Koeda Animation has participated

by Shakitonu31

40 Entries · 8 Restacks

Best Summer Anime/Sequel Recommendations (2025)

by D2vid

39 Entries · 5 Restacks

Mini Coopers in Anime

by KobraKid1337

6 Entries · 3 Restacks

Recommendations

'Seishun Buta Yarou wa Dear Friend no Yume wo Minai' Movie Sequel Announced for 2026

The 13th and final episode of Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai (Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus) ended with an anime movie sequel announcemen...read more

Sep 27, 2025 10:09 AM by Vindstot | Discuss (10 comments)

Summer 2025 Simulcast List [Update 8/7]

In this thread, you'll find a comprehensive list of television anime acquired for simulcast release during the Summer 2025 season. Anime series licensed for hom...read more

Jun 27, 2025 2:20 PM by Snow | Discuss (17 comments)

	Poll: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Aversa - Sep 27, 2025	114 replies	by Irkagi »» Jan 12, 11:39 PM
	Do the people behind this show secretly have a cuck fetish when it comes to Mai? MightyHawk - Jan 7	16 replies	by bizerker97 »» Jan 9, 9:38 PM
	Poll: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 ) IzanaSolos - Sep 6, 2025	72 replies	by Hamuuuh »» Dec 30, 2025 8:04 PM
	Poll: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Softhenic03 - Jul 12, 2025	64 replies	by ORTEK7 »» Dec 30, 2025 7:47 PM
	Poll: Seishun Buta Yarou wa Santa Claus no Yume wo Minai Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 ) IzanaSolos - Sep 20, 2025	55 replies	by YudiYusantoS »» Dec 27, 2025 3:51 PM